Security software is designed to protect and secure servers, laptops, mobile devices, and networks from unauthorized access, intrusions, viruses, and other threats. Security software can help defend data, users, systems, and companies from a wide range of risks.
Security software can improve both business and information security. Operating without security software--or using outdated solutions--leaves organizations and users exposed to a wide range of threats, including malicious hackers, spyware, viruses, and malware.
The growing sophistication and diversity of cyber threats--and the expanding number of endpoints that need protecting due to an increase in mobility, remote work, and the Internet of Things--require many businesses to employ ever more advanced security software solutions.
Businesses today use as many as 50 different types of security software solutions from various vendors. A security platform can help manage these myriad security software products and functions more efficiently and cost-effectively by consolidating them.
A security platform can unify multiple security products and automate repetitive tasks and workflows across endpoints, networks, the cloud, and applications. It can also increase visibility into threats and make intelligence sharing easier so security teams can work faster and more collaboratively and deliver better outcomes.
Organizations can use both security appliances and security software and applications to protect their network environment.
A security appliance is a device or server that can block unwanted traffic from entering the network. Types of security appliances include:
Security software and applications, such as advanced malware protection software or email security applications, can be installed on devices and nodes across the network. In addition to protecting networks, security software and applications can help organizations secure servers, laptops, and mobile devices from unauthorized access and other threats.
Organizations deploy different types of security software to monitor different situations. Here are some examples of leading security software applications.
Traditional software programs that scan for, detect, and remove software viruses and malicious software like worms and Trojans have become ineffective. Advanced malware protection software has become the new standard.
Advanced malware protection is a security solution that addresses the full lifecycle of the advanced malware problem. It prevents breaches and gives the visibility, context, and control needed to rapidly detect, contain, and remediate threats if they evade frontline defenses.
Modern businesses rely heavily on a wide range of applications for communication, collaboration, data analytics, and more. They need to monitor which applications are running in their environment, what those applications are doing, and--most importantly--who is accessing them.
Many firms rely on multi-factor authentication (MFA) software to help secure their applications. Two-factor authentication (2FA) is one of the most widely used forms of MFA. The 2FA process requires a user to provide a username and password, and then enter a code generated by the 2FA application or respond to a notification on a device such as smartphone.
With a strong 2FA solution, businesses can verify the identity of a user before granting access to corporate information and resources, and even enable secure access to all applications so users have a seamless and consistent login experience to all the applications they are authorized to access.
Firewall software can prevent unauthorized access to or from private networks. Firewalls can also be hardware, and firewall software and hardware are often used together.
This type of software helps to protect the data and workflows related to the various devices--such as laptops, smartphones, and tablets--that connect to a corporate network.
Web security software can monitor inbound and outbound web traffic to help reduce the risk of sensitive data theft or leakage. It can also provide protection from zero-day threats (threats that leverages unknown vulnerabilities).
Network security software helps businesses detect and stop unauthorized network access due to phishing, spyware, and more. It can also help to protect data in transit and at rest. Network security solutions include:
Email gateways are the top vector for a security breach. Phishing, ransomware, business email compromise, and other inbound threats are just some examples of threats that email security software can help detect and deflect. Email security applications can also control outbound messages to help prevent the loss of sensitive data.
As the IoT expands, organizations need security software to help them understand what is touching their network, handle more complex access management tasks, secure endpoint access, and much more.